Why Watching Japanese Dramas Is One of the Best Ways to Learn Japanese

Japanese dramas use language that closely resembles real-life speaking environments. What you hear and read is the Japanese that would be used when living in Japan, including rich colloquial expressions and slang, helping learners improve their listening and speaking abilities.

Through Japanese dramas, learners can understand Japanese cultural backgrounds and social phenomena. Additionally, the diverse scenarios and professional terminology in Japanese dramas can enrich learners' vocabulary, with over 60% of drama dialogue consisting of JLPT vocabulary words.

Business-Themed Japanese Dramas

Healing Japanese Dramas

Brush up/Rebooting

Ordinary person Mami (Sakura Andô ) discovers that due to insufficient merit in her previous life, she can only be reincarnated as an anteater. She decides to restart her life to accumulate merit. She returns to various points in her life multiple times, reconnecting with childhood friends and experiencing school, work, and other life stages with them. The plot revolves around Mami and her friends' ordinary yet warm lives, filled with both laughter and tears. Using a fantasy restart setting, it showcases the small joys and precious friendships in ordinary life - simple yet touching, leaving viewers with a sense of the beauty and hope in everyday life.

Suitable level: JLPT N1-N5

Dialogue style: Everyday Japanese, medium pace

My Story Is Long

The protagonist (Tôma Ikuta) is unsuccessful, without work after university graduation and living off his parents for many years. Though his life seems aimless, he has his own thoughts about living. His family members have different views about his situation, leading to a series of small family frictions. In ordinary days, there are minor conflicts between family members, as well as mutual understanding and warmth. The plot is like a microcosm of life - without dramatic storylines, but showing family warmth and life's truths in subtle ways, allowing viewers to feel the authenticity and beauty of life through simplicity.

Suitable level: JLPT N1-N5

Dialogue style: Everyday Japanese, medium pace

Work-Themed Japanese Dramas

Watashi, Teiji de Kaerimasu

The story of Yui (Yuriko Yoshitaka). In a competitive advertising company, she adheres to the principle of leaving work on time. While her colleagues are accustomed to working overtime, Yui remains unmoved. Her approach draws strange looks from those around her, but she persists and gradually influences others. At work, she efficiently completes tasks, and after work, she fully enjoys her personal life. Through Yui's experiences, the drama showcases the clash between workplace survival rules and life attitudes, prompting viewers to consider the balance between work and life.

Suitable level: JLPT N1-N5

Dialogue style: Business Japanese, medium pace

Romance Dramas

The Full-Time Wife Escapist/Nigeru wa haji daga, yaku ni tatsu

The story of highly educated but unemployed Mikuri Moriyama (Yui Aragaki) and office worker Hiramasa Tsuzaki (Gen Hoshino) who sign a contract to become a "contract couple" living together. Due to difficulty finding a job, Mikuri comes to Hiramasa's home to do housekeeping in exchange for payment, which leads to their contract marriage. During this time, they gradually develop subtle feelings through their daily interactions. The drama cleverly integrates elements such as workplace pressure and marriage concepts, presenting a unique love story from a light-hearted perspective. With humorous plots paired with excellent performances, it offers warmth and healing through laughter, making it well worth watching.

Suitable level: JLPT N5-N3

Dialogue style: Everyday Japanese, medium pace

Shitsuren Chocolatier

Sota Koyado (Matsumoto Jun) has admired his senior Saeko (Satomi Ishihara) since childhood. To attract her attention, he strives to become a professional chocolatier. In this process, he not only continuously improves in chocolate making but also experiences many romantic encounters. Although Saeko is already in a relationship, she maintains an ambiguous relationship with Sota. As Sota vacillates between loving and being loved, how will he choose? This romantic yet somewhat cruel love story is bittersweet, taking viewers on an emotional roller coaster.

Suitable level: JLPT N5-N1

Dialogue style: Everyday Japanese, medium pace

Crime Dramas

Unnatural

The forensic doctors at the UDI autopsy room seek the truth behind unnatural deaths through autopsies. The protagonist Mikoto Misumi (Satomi Ishihara) upholds the belief that "unexplained deaths should be investigated" and works with her colleagues to overcome numerous obstacles. The drama features both bizarre cases bringing tension and excitement, as well as profound explorations of human nature and social realities, such as workplace discrimination and school bullying. They use their professional knowledge to give voice to the deceased and reveal the truth, with a plot that unfolds intricately.

Suitable level: JLPT N5-N1

Dialogue style: Business Japanese, Medical Japanese, medium to fast pace